BRUINS NOTEBOOK: Blue Liners take a hit

Half of the Bruins’ Top 6 defensemen were missing from Game 7, but two youngsters and captain Zdeno Chara stepped up to fill the void.

By Mike Loftus

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Mike Loftus

Posted May. 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2013 at 2:07 PM

By Mike Loftus

Posted May. 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2013 at 2:07 PM

BOSTON

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The game will always be remembered for its historic comeback and the goals that made it possible.

What shouldn’t be forgotten about the Bruins’ 5-4, overtime victory over the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Monday night is that it was accomplished without half of their Top 6 defensemen.

Things were bad enough when Andrew Ference, who didn’t play Game 6, hobbled into TD Garden on crutches, but they became worse, literally, in minutes: Wade Redden, who missed Game 5 with an undisclosed injury but played Game 6 on Sunday night, was pulled from the lineup after pre-game warm-ups. Then Dennis Seidenberg was lost before the game was two minutes old, to an apparent leg injury.

“A couple guys stepped up and had to fill in that extra ice time and play that much more responsible,” said Johnny Boychuk, who logged 28 minutes, 30 seconds, made six hits and blocked four shots. “They did a good job.”

Dougie Hamilton and Matt Bartkowski were the two guys who stepped in and stepped up, with Bartkowski especially effective in just his second NHL playoff appearance and 22nd NHL game, period.

B’s captain Zdeno Chara, however, went above and beyond most of all. Chara played 35 minutes, 46 seconds, was plus-2, had an assist on Milan Lucic’s goal that brought the B’s within 4-3 with 1:22 to play, and was screening Toronto goalie James Reimer on Patrice Bergeron’s tying goal.

“You have to find a way to give credit to ... Hamilton (21:08) and Bartkowski (24:51, plus a goal),” coach Claude Julien said. “We were minus three real good veterans – that’s half your core – and those guys come in and do a heck of a job.

“But we’re so used to a guy like Zdeno doing it night after night, sometimes we don’t give him the credit he deserves. If it’s not for Zdeno, the way he played, we’re not sitting here, going to the next round.”

Around the boards

Julien said the Bruins would know more about the severity of Seidenberg’s injury today. Seidenberg, who got hurt on his first shift, stayed on the bench through the end of the second period before abandoning hope of returning. “He wanted to (play),” Julien said, “but ... it was better to take him out than to make it worse.” ... The Bruins didn’t lose any forwards to injury during the series, but they almost did: Winger Daniel Paille was fortunate to escape serious damage in Game 6, when Leaf forward Leo Komarov’s skate caught him in the neck. “I think the boot hit my neck, my face in general,” Paille said. “I just count myself lucky, I guess, that it wasn’t any worse. I got a few stitches.” ... The Bruins apparently weren’t bothered too much by having to stay overnight in Toronto after Game 6 on Sunday due to a problem with their charter aircraft. “I didn’t have my dogs kicking me in the back in the middle of the night,” said winger Shawn Thornton. “I probably got more sleep staying over than I would if we’d come home.” ... The Bruins won a staggering 70 percent of the faceoffs in Game 7 (43-for-61). Bergeron was the most prolific (16-6, 73 percent), but the third-line combination of Chris Kelly (6-1) and Rich Peverley (7-2) was downright deadly, at a combined 81.3 percent. Former Bruins prospect Joe Colborne was 0-9 for the Leafs.